SEC Embraces Liquid Staking, Confirms It’s Not a Security

The SEC declared Tuesday that liquid staking falls outside securities laws—freeing platforms like Lido and JitoSOL from registration requirements.

The agency’s new guidance states that staking receipt tokens are not securities unless tied to an investment contract.

“This is a pivotal moment for decentralized finance,” said one industry analyst, noting the SEC’s increasingly open stance under the Trump administration. Chair Paul Atkins reinforced that staking via protocols or third-party services—where users receive liquid tokens—does not trigger securities laws.

The announcement follows the SEC’s May ruling that proof-of-stake staking isn’t inherently a securities transaction. With the launch of “Project Crypto,” the agency is doubling down on its commitment to clearer, more supportive regulations for digital assets.